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Students help fill blood bank

4:49 pm December 27th, 2013

More than half of the blood donated to Cascade Regional Blood Services to help save lives comes from community-based drives. Eatonville High School pitched in that way this month.
A drive Dec. 13 was coordinated by the school’s Associated Student Body, honor roll and Leadership students. Seventy-five donors – 51 of them giving for the first time – were registered.
“The drive went great,” said Rita Wells, a community relations specialist for Cascade (CRBS).
The not-for-profit CRBS works with schools, churches and other organizations to put together community drives. It also sends bloodmobiles to shopping centers, individual businesses and community events throughout the year for about 100 blood drives each month. About 60 percent of the overall blood supply donated through CRBS is given at drives in various communities, officials said.
This week, two drives in the south Pierce County area are scheduled for:
• Dec. 26 at the Safeway store in Spanaway at 15805 Pacific Ave. S., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Dec. 28 at Limeberry in Graham at 22205 Meridian Ave. E., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CRBS offices where blood can be donated are in Puyallup, Tacoma and Federal Way. Appointments can be scheduled at 1-877-24-BLOOD and crbs.net.
CRBS has been supplying blood and related service in Pierce County and the south King County area for more than 65 years. Founded in 1946, CRBS is the sole provider of blood to Franciscan Health System and MultiCare Health System hospitals and clinics. The hospitals include Franciscan’s St. Anthony in Gig Harbor, St. Clare in Lakewood, St. Francis in Federal Way, and St. Joseph in Tacoma, and MultiCare’s Good Samaritan in Puyallup and Allenmore, Mary Bridge Children’s and Tacoma General in Tacoma.

The gloved hands of Rena Blaes, a Cascade Regional Blood Services technician, attached a holiday-themed bow to Eli Potts’ arm after he gave blood at Eatonville High School. (Jim Bryant/The Dispatch)